A 2-month-old girl died of malnutrition hours after four child welfare workers visited her Indianapolis home.

At least one of those workers expressed concern about the baby's well-being during the Aug. 21 visit, but did not report it to authorities. A state ombudsman has chastised the Department of Child Services for failing to properly handle the case.

Ruth Ringer died of malnutrition and dehydration at her home in the 900 block of West 33rd Street, according to the Marion County coroner's office.

As of Friday, no criminal charges had been filed relating to her death. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Marion County prosecutor's office said the situation remains under investigation.

The child welfare workers, one of whom worked for DCS, were in Ruth's home for a Child and Family Team Meeting about one of the baby's older siblings, who is in foster care, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. Ruth still was in her parents' care.

Ruth's father, William Anthony Moss, told IndyStar Friday that DCS should not have taken the older child into foster care. He also said he asked the workers — who were in his home on the day Ruth died — if his daughter looked right. He would not elaborate on what that meant.

"It was a heartbroken situation, I will admit," Moss said. "That was my only daughter."

Ruth's mother, Janet Ringer, could not be reached Friday for comment.

Carrie Upchurch, whose adoptive daughter is believed to be Ruth's sister, said she called DCS on three separate occasions to report concerns about the baby's safety.

She told IndyStar she was concerned because of Moss' criminal history and because he seemed to not have the resources to care for the baby. Moss pleaded guilty in 1999 to felony child molesting, according to Marion Superior Court records.

Upchurch told IndyStar she called the DCS hotline the first time shortly after Ruth's birth on June 10. She said she alsocalled a week later to reiterate her concerns,and a third time about a month later.

The Indianapolis woman, who is also a foster parent, said she was horrified to learn of Ruth's death.

After Ruth's death in August, Upchurch filed a complaint with the DCS Ombudsman Bureau — a separate agency that receives, investigates and attempts to resolve complaints over DCS actions. In it, Upchurch said she referenced her prior reports to DCS and concerns about what happened the day Ruth died.

Alfreda Singleton-Smith, director of the DCS Ombudsman Bureau, concluded DCS "failed to follow laws, rules and written policies as they pertain to the completion of assessments involving the child in question," according to a letter obtained by IndyStar. Singleton-Smith also determined the state agency failed to address certain factors before unsubstantiating and closing the DCS assessment before Ruth's death.

And she concluded that "DCS staff failed to report or follow up on other verbal concerns regarding the child through the appropriate available channels," according to the letter.

DCS spokeswoman Stephanie Shene said she could not comment at this time because the assessment into Ruth's death is still open. Once that process is done, she said the agency could address the findings in the ombudsman's report.